How many Jehovah's Witnesses are born of God as described in 1 John 5:1-13? All of them or only the anointed?

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God... God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
I know that Jehovah's Witnesses believe only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus are... show more "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God... God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

I know that Jehovah's Witnesses believe only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus are anointed and have a heavenly hope. There are about 9,000 of them left. They are in the new covenant and Jesus Christ is their mediator. But what about the other 7.1 million Jehovah's Witnesses who are not anointed, who are not in the new covenant and do not have Jesus Christ as their mediator?

1 John chapter 5 clearly says that EVERYONE who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and that God will give them eternal life. However, I've heard it said by Jehovah's Witnesses that the promises of salvation in the New Testament apply only to the anointed, those with a heavenly calling.

I would appreciate some clarification on how Jehovah's Witnesses apply 1 John chapter 5 - does this part of the Bible exclude everyone who is not part of the 144,000?

Update: This question is not asking Jehovah's Witnesses to defend their doctrine that only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus have a heavenly hope. If anyone cares to read the question properly, it is simply asking if ALL Jehovah's Witnesses can say they are born of God or if only the existing remnant (some... show more This question is not asking Jehovah's Witnesses to defend their doctrine that only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus have a heavenly hope. If anyone cares to read the question properly, it is simply asking if ALL Jehovah's Witnesses can say they are born of God or if only the existing remnant (some 9,000) can make that claim.

If you are not an anointed Jehovah's Witness, are you born of God?

Update 2: This question is not asking Jehovah's Witnesses to defend their doctrine that only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus have a heavenly hope. If anyone cares to read the question properly, it is simply asking if ALL Jehovah's Witnesses can say they are born of God or if only the existing remnant (some... show more This question is not asking Jehovah's Witnesses to defend their doctrine that only 144,000 people since the time of Jesus have a heavenly hope. If anyone cares to read the question properly, it is simply asking if ALL Jehovah's Witnesses can say they are born of God or if only the existing remnant (some 9,000) can make that claim.

If you are not an anointed Jehovah's Witness, are you born of God?

Update 3: I agree with keiichi entirely! But you did not say if every J.W. is a born-again son of God. Is that because only 9,000 out of 7.1 million can make this claim?
I agree with Ceraphina when she says that for anyone to have eternal life they must be born-again and that those who are born-again have assurance of... show more I agree with keiichi entirely! But you did not say if every J.W. is a born-again son of God. Is that because only 9,000 out of 7.1 million can make this claim?

I agree with Ceraphina when she says that for anyone to have eternal life they must be born-again and that those who are born-again have assurance of their heavenly inheritance. They have been baptised in water and are born-again by God's Holy Spirit. We agree!

Where we disagree is in the interpretation of John 10:15. Jesus came to save the lost sheep of Israel - all those Jews who come to believe Jesus is the Christ. The other sheep are all those Gentiles who come to believe Jesus is the Christ. There is only ONE Shepherd, ONE flock and ONE salvation. Must the other sheep be born again too? Absolutely, categorically, emphatically YES!

The great crowd in Revelation 7 are where? They are in heaven, along with the symbolic 144,000, and they too are before the throne of God. ALL of them!

Update 4: Where in the Bible does it say that you can be a true Christian but not be born again with the Holy Spirit? Angelmusic, if you have been excluded from the new covenant, then Jesus Christ is not your mediator and you are not saved. Anyone who is not in the new covenant does not have Jesus Christ as their mediator -... show more Where in the Bible does it say that you can be a true Christian but not be born again with the Holy Spirit? Angelmusic, if you have been excluded from the new covenant, then Jesus Christ is not your mediator and you are not saved. Anyone who is not in the new covenant does not have Jesus Christ as their mediator - they have not received forgiveness for their sins, they have no assurance of salvation. I understand that most Jehovah's Witnesses are excluded from the new covenant.

Lifelong Student, am I to understand from your answer that 1 John 5 was NOT written for 99.9% of Jehovah's Witnesses then?

1 John 5:1 does NOT say that Jesus is born of God. It says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.

Update 5: Tom, there is no attempt on my part to demean your faith. I am desperately worried for the 99.9% of Jehovah's Witnesses who are not born again and who are not in the new covenant. According to what I've read in my Bible, if you are not born again you cannot claim to be a son (or a daughter) of God - you are... show more Tom, there is no attempt on my part to demean your faith. I am desperately worried for the 99.9% of Jehovah's Witnesses who are not born again and who are not in the new covenant. According to what I've read in my Bible, if you are not born again you cannot claim to be a son (or a daughter) of God - you are not in God's family! Steinbeck's answer makes it crystal clear.

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First, the apostle points out that “everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ” (the Messiah, or Jehovah’s Anointed One) “has been born from God,” or been spirit-begotten by Jehovah. Moreover, everyone who loves the Begetter, Jehovah, loves anyone else “born from that one.” Yes, all of God’s anointed children love him and would be expected to love one another. Such brotherly love also is characteristic of the “great crowd” of “other sheep” having earthly hopes.—John 10:16; Revelation 7:9.

From the meaning of 'born of God ' is 'spirit begotten' OR 'anointed' - so the other 7 million are not BUT Romans8:21 'that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.' They will become 'children of God' when they reach perfection throughout the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Jesus isn't the mediator for the covenant in heaven for these ones who have an earthly hope BUT he is the only way to a relationship with Jehovah as says John17:3, John 6:44

w98 2/15 p. 21 par. 13 Glorious Freedom Soon for the Children of God

Jehovah imparts his holy spirit as a gift to his people. Christians given a heavenly hope are anointed with holy spirit. (1 John 2:20; 5:1-4, 18) Yet, God’s servants having earthly prospects have the spirit’s help and guidance. Among these was Moses, who had Jehovah’s spirit, as did the 70 men appointed to assist him. (Numbers 11:24, 25) Under the influence of holy spirit, Bezalel served as an expert craftsman in connection with Israel’s tabernacle. (Exodus 31:1-11) God’s spirit came upon Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, David, Elijah, Elisha, and others. Though these individuals of ancient times will never be brought to heavenly glory, they were guided and helped by holy spirit, as are Jesus’ other sheep today. So, then, possession of God’s spirit does not mean that we necessarily have the heavenly calling. Yet, Jehovah’s spirit provides guidance, helps us to preach and fulfill other God-given assignments, gives us power beyond what is normal, and produces in us its fruitage of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control. (John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; Galatians 5:22, 23)

Since they believe that only 144,000 jw's will go to heaven then it must mean their anointed are the only ones that are "Born of GOD". But, in order to be Born of GOD one must be a Christian and the jw's are anything but Christians. They do not teach that Jesus is the Way to salvation, they teach that the Watchtower corporation is the Way.

[Quote]

"And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a “great war cry.” " (Watchtower 11/15/1981 Page 21 Paragraph 18)

Your words:
"However, I've heard it said by Jehovah's Witnesses that the promises of salvation in the New Testament apply only to the anointed, those with a heavenly calling."
Everlasting life on a paradise earth is "salvation" that is promised in the Christian Greek Scriptures or NT ------
Revelation 21:3,4 Matthew 5:5

1 John 5:1 was written to first century Christians, all of whom were spirit begotten (or born again) christians who comprise part of the 144,000 that go to heaven to rule with Christ as kings/priests.
Governmental bodies usually have set number of legislators.
Rev. 14:1-3, 5:9,10

The New Testament promises of salvation are not limited to
those who will receive immortal life in heaven.
John 10:16
Revelation 7:4-8,
Revelation 7:9
NOTE The heavenly class has a finite number 144,000
a government
The earthly class (great multitude (crowd) infinite number

I thought the article Ceraphina quoted above explained quite well. If you have a look at the article referring to this:

The apostle Peter, at 1 Peter 1:3, 4, explains the purpose of the new birth in this way: “According to [God’s] great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you.”

Looking at that, it can be seen that being born from God for the "Anointed with a heavenly hope“ also had a connection to a LIVING HOPE when compared to 1 Peter 1:3, 4. Who has a similar living hope? All followers who had died, "Great Crowd" or "Other Sheep" as well as those who would pass on through alive after Armageddon.

This is really splitting hairs going on about this. Nothing the Jehovah's Witnesses have said is contradictory. In the absolute sense from the one who wrote these things, in his mind referring to his class alone, it was the heavenly hope. But that does not take away from the Bible’s teaching of the belief that people are resurrected for the hope of "Paradise Earth" or that these scriptures making reference to a hope excludes those with a hope for the "Paradise Earth".

These ploys of other faiths to demean our faith are unnecessary. At some point in time you have got to accept that there is too much explanation for your misconceptions of our faith. Going on about the same things over and over again after explanation is given is in opposition to us and to the correct meaning of the scriptures. Really you are in opposition to God’s word by not being able to understand and continuing to misconceive. The truth is that from creation onward, it is God’s purpose to have a paradise Earth with a perfect human society under his direction, not all humans going to heaven. Is it possible that you are going against God and his purpose by advocating misconception about our faith?

They believe that only 144,000 in the whole earth have the heavenly hope, and are only of their tribe of 6.5 million.

They also believe that everyone else who is one of Jehovah's Witlessness, or those that are saved during Armageddon, and some that are resurrected from the grave will be part of everlasting life on a paradise earth after Armageddon; both righteous and unrighteous people.

They believe only through them do any humans have a chance at being in the "one and only true religion" therefore have a better chance of everlasting life on a paradise earth after Armageddon.

It's a cult for sure... it appears that they mean well but when you stop and just think about all the hocus pocus you feel very stupid having been a member for so many years. It's nice to be free from the madness.

Anonymous · 9 years ago

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The Bible itself makes a distinction between those who have a heavenly hope and those who have an earthly hope.

Philippians 3:11 speaks of "an earlier resurrection from the dead".

Revelation 20:6 speaks of those who are "having part in the first resurrection: over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule with him for the thousand years."

Hebrews 11:30 and 40 speaks about the faithful men and women of old depending on the rulership/priesthood of born-again Christians to help them gain perfection.

"And yet all these, although they had witness borne to them through their faith, did not get the fulfillment of the promise, as God saw something better for us, in order that they might not be made perfect apart from us."

So there are distinctions made throughout the Greek scriptures (these are a few - there are many others) of future outcomes.

Everlasting life is for ALL. Where that everlasting life is to be spent - whether in heaven or on a paradise earth - is for Jehovah to determine.

We do not make that choice ourselves.

He selects those from among mankind who will represent the human race in this new government - GOD'S Kingdom.

That is why the Bible uses the phrase "called and chosen". We do not individually choose. God does the calling and God does the choosing.

Romans 9:16 -

"So, then, it depends, not upon the one wishing nor upon the one running, but upon God, who has mercy"

Question: If you are not an anointed Jehovah's Witness, are you born of God?

no.

To be born again one must be anointed with spirit and water.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Thoese who are not born from God are simply regarded as a member of the nations. Side note: Israel or annointed Christians are always refered to a a single nation where the Gentiles or non-annointed are called nation(s).

"All the nations...will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."

Scripture: 1 John 5:1

Everyone, in the context of 1 John 5:1, means all of God's born again sons, without exception.

The preceding verse makes it plain that everyone who merely claims to love God but who hates their brother is a liar. Clearly, then, everyone does not always mean everyone.

At Matthew 7:21 Jesus said "Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens."

Because God made provision for us to get everlasting life on earth with the death of his son Jesus, he had to have a new government. All earthly governments will be done away with. But God has set up a heavenly government for us who will get eternal life. This heavenly government will be ruled by Jesus and a new creation...people from the earth. They must die, shed their human bodies and put on a spiritual body. This was 144,000 will go to heaven and rule over, compassionately, the humans because they were once humans.

So these 144,000 are reborn to spiritual life...but the earth will benefit because they will also get eternal life after their resurrection to earthly life .

There is only one hope. In Rev. 7 the angel is showing John ONE thing. "The number of those who are sealed with the promise".
How many did he see?
144,000 who were Jews "AND AFTER THESE a great multitude "
Where were ALL those who are sealed?
ALL of them are in ONE place. Not some on Earth and some in heaven. They ALL were before the throne of God.

ok I just read 1John 5:1-13 in the KJV, and it said nothing about being born of God. I clearly says in 1John 5:1 That Jesus is born of God. In 1John 5:4 its says "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith. Also read 1John 5:10. I pray you get a clear understanding. : ) have a great day!